Courtesy Photos
A GROUP OF VIETNAM VETERANS reunited on Sept. 9 with the helicopter that got them back safely, mission after mission. These vets were members of the “Razorbacks”—the gunship platoon of the Saigon-based 120th Assault Helicopter Company - and flew hazardous missions ranging from fire support, to the extraction of special operations teams on covert assignment. This reunion was the first time that these vets, which include a pilot and two former crew chiefs, had seen their Huey since the Razorbacks disbanded over 40 years ago. Their helicopter, a UH-1 “Huey,” Number 948, survived the war and landed a role in the movie Terminator II before making its way to Ore City, where it became a local landmark at Steel Country Threaders, owned by businessman Conrad Coppedge. When Coppedge sold the business in 2013, he gave the helicopter to son Kenneth, whose research uncovered its past history. The helicopter is currently at Ken’s home in Wisconsin, where plans for its restoration are underway.